As the tenth anniversary of losing my mom approaches, I have been caught up in thoughts of the past—but where are those vivid memories that once flooded me?

remember lost loved ones, memoir & writing, family history, dawn's musingsDawn M. RoodeOctober 3, 2019writing from memories, preserving family memories, writing about difficult memories Comments

Announcing new resources toolkit

Discover family history, life story writing, and photo management guides in our Toolkit, where you can download free resources to help you preserve your legacy.

photo legacy, memoir & writing, remember lost loved onesDawn M. RoodeAugust 5, 2019free downloads, life story writing prompts, family history guidesComment

The vignette: What to read to be inspired

Memoir reading suggestions to inspire your own vignette-style life story writing, from Annie Dillard and Kelly Corrigan to Robert Fulghum and Sandra Cisneros.

memoir & writing, book ideas & inspiration, reviewsDawn M. RoodeJuly 8, 2019memoir inspiration, writing vignettes, autobiographical writing prompts, how to write vignette for memoir, writing tips, book review, course resources Comment

Writing prompts for life story vignettes: 300 words in 30 minutes

By limiting oneself in word count and time allotted for writing, undertaking any life story project becomes both more urgent and more relaxed. Ready, set, write!

memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeJune 17, 2019prompts for writing your life story, how to write vignette for memoir, timed writing exercises, writing tips, autobiographical writing prompts, course resources, writing vignettesComment

Writing prompts for life story vignettes: self interview

In Part Two of our Life Story Vignettes Writing Prompts series, guidance on conducting a probing self interview as an entry point to your stories and memories.

book ideas & inspiration, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeJune 3, 2019conducting your own interview, writing vignettes, life story writing prompts, how to write vignette for memoir, writing tips, autobiographical writing prompts, course resources Comments

Writing prompts for life story vignettes: Using the senses

In Part One of our Life Story Vignettes Writing Prompts series, we offer five specific exercises for writing about your memories by engaging all your senses.

book ideas & inspiration, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeMay 6, 2019writing vignettes, life story writing prompts, food memories, how to write vignette for memoir, writing tips, autobiographical writing prompts, course resourcesComment

How to use short vignettes to create a mosaic of your life

How the best life story vignettes are powerful ways to capture your past, and why writing short pieces from your memories is a smart way to begin your memoir.